Garment-supporter



(No Model.)

. S. PORTER GARMENT SUPPORTER- No. 342,708. Patented May 25, 1886.

WITNESSES. INVENTUR.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN PORTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,708, dated May 25, 1886.

Application filed March 6, 1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN PORTER, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massach usetts,have invented certain Improvements in Garment Supporters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view showing a garment-supporter constructed in accordance with my invention and in a position ready for use. Fig. 2 represents the application of the same when supporting a stocking. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 represent portions of the supporter detached. Fig. 6 is a plan of the portion shown in Fig. 4 before being bent into a position for receiving the end of the elastic web leading to the waistband or corset. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line a m of Fig. 2; Fig. 8,a modification of the plate shown in Fig. 6.

My present invention consists in a pair of slotted jaws formed integral with each other from a metal plate by striking up one jaw from the outer or circumscribed portion of the plate, which constitutes the other jaw, a fastening adapted to slide within the slots for securing the garment to the jaws being provided,and a suitable connection leading from the jaws to a point of suspension aboveas, for instance, to a waistband, a corset, or undergarment of the wearer.

In the said drawings, A represents a plate, preferably of spring metal, which is acted on by dies in such manner that the inner portion of the plate is struck up and out from its outer or circumscribing portion, the said inner and outer portions constituting jaws a b, each provided with a longitudinal slot, at b, said plate also having a transverse slot, 0, formed within its wider portion above the junction of the two jaws. The upper end of the slot b of the outer or smallerjaw, b, is enlarged to form a passage, J, of sufficient size to permit the entrance of the smaller head, 6, of a stud, B, Figs. 5 7, the shank h of which passes through and is located in both slots to b, the larger head, 2', of the stud being at the opposite side of the inner or larger jaw, a. The shank of the stud is free to slide in the slots a b, and the smaller head, 6, having been entered through the enlarged passage d, is prevented Serial No. 194,276. (No model.)

from escaping from the slot 1) by pressing inwardly a teat or projection, Z, located at the upper edge of said passage d and formed i11- tegral with the two jaws and the plate A.

The above-described slotted spring-jaws a b and the teat or projection Z, formed integral with each other and the plate A,and the transverse slot 0 are all readily formed by the action of the dies upon a blank punched from a sheet of metal.

O is a metal plate for securing the springjaws a b to the lower end of the webbing mor other connection leading to the waistband, corset, or under-garment of the wearer. This connecting-plate G is formed from ablank of the shape seen in Fig. 6, being provided with atransverse slot, or, and a tongue, 19, said plate being passed through the slot 0 of the plate A and bent at or near the middle, in which position the lower end of the webbing m is introduced and forced by the tongue 12 into or through the slot n, where suitable pressure is applied thereto.

A flat plate, D, of the form shown in Fig. 8,and having projections r1" and-slots 8.9, may be used (when bent) for securing the end of the webbing m, instead of the plate 0.

My supporter being in the position shown in Fig. 1, and it being desired to hold up a stocking thereby, it is simply necessary to introduce its top or selvage edge between the inner or larger jaw, a, and the contiguous face of the larger head of the stud B, then to draw up the edge of the stocking till it abuts against the surface at the junction of the two jaws a b, next to slide the stud up till its larger head, 1', comes in line with the enlargement 6 of the slot a,when the head is pressed against the stocking, the result'being that both the head i and the edge of the stocking are carried inside the inner face of the jaw a, or, in other words,with the inner face of the head 4. against the side of the jaw a nearest the limb of the wearer, and with the edge of the stocking in contact with the limb, after which a slight downward pull on the stocking will draw the head i of the stud down to the bottom of the slot at, with the edge of the stock-- ing tightly wedged and securely confined between the head@' and jaw a.

A simple cord, preferably elastic, havin its lower end passing through a small hole i the plate A, may be substituted for the webbing m and transverse slot 0 in said plate, in which case the connecting-plate Owill be dispensed with.

My within-described supporting device may be used singly or in pairs forholding up each stocking, and my said invention may be applied for supporting or taking up the slack of other garments or articles.

My spring-jaws are adapted for garments of different thicknesses, as said jaws automatically adjust themselves thereto.

I am aware that twojaws have been hinged or pivoted together; but such jaws have no spring property, and cannot adjust themselves to garments of different thicknesses.

I claim-- 1. As an improvement in garment-supporters,the plate A, with its slotted spring-jaws a 1), formed integral therewith, one jaw, b, consisting of the inner portion of the plate struck up from the outer or circumscribing portion, which constitutes its other jaw, a, in combination with a fastening, B, having two heads, substantially as described.

2. In a garment-supporter, the plate A, having aslotted jaw, a, and a slotted jaw, b, provided with a teat or projection, Z, all formed integral with said plate, the teat or projection 1, when bent outwardly from its jaw b, forming an enlarged passage,d, in its slot b, for the admission of one of the heads of the fasteningstud B, and when bent inwardly closing said passage for preventing the escape of said head from its slot, substantially as set forth.

3. The plate A,with its transverse slot 0, in combination with apair of slotted jaws, ab, the latter provided with a teat or projection, Z, and all formed integral with said plate, and a fastening-stud, B, having two heads, 0 i, and constructed to be operated as described.

4. A bent plate, 0 or D, provided with one or moreslots or openings and one or more tongues or projections fitting therein, in combination with the plate A, the said bent plate 0 or D being located between and secured to the plate A and the connection leading tothe pointof suspension above, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 2d day of March. 1886.

STEPHEN PORTER.

In presence of- N. W. STEARNS, CHAS. HALL ADAMs. 

